Museum-Aktuell: Das Museums-Portal, European Museums, Verlag Dr. Chr. Müller-Straten

Wolinski National Park was established on March 3,1960 on the Wolin Island. This is the largest island lying entirely within the Polish boundaries. The Park extends over an area of diverse landscape of rare beauty, where picturesque sand dunes and the steep cliffs present a striking contrast with the hills of the island. In the year 1996, the Park's area was doubled and now stands at 10,937 ha, with forests covering 4,491 ha (41 %), Baltic Sea covering 2719 ha (25 %) and Szczecin Bay covering approximately 2000 ha (18 %). Apart from its scientific, protective and cultural functions, the Wolinski National Park serves an educational purpose. The well known sea-side resort Miedzyzdroje, is located on the outskirts of the Wolinski National Park, and is a convenient starting point for interesting excursions into the heart of the Park.
The forests of the Wolinski National Park invite for very pleasant walks. Most of the Park area is covered with mixed and deciduous forests. Among these, old, primeval-like beech forests, deserve special attention. The most precious portions of these forests are Pomeranian beech woods, (Melico-Fagetum; 18 % of all forests), and mixed forests (Fago-Quercetum) with beech, oak (6 %) and pine (74 %). The best preserved forest sections are under strict protection in reserves (total of 5,936 ha or 54 % of the Park area). Among others they include:
• the Dr. Stefan Jarosz Reserve (9.46 ha), which protects the easternmost beech wood surrounded by pine wood;
• the Prof. Marian Raciborski Reserve (21.5 ha), covering the most interesting part of the mixed forest with a multitude of woodbine and some twin-flower;
• the Prof. Zygmunt Czubinski Reserve (36.67 ha), which protects the most beautiful portion of the orchis beech wood in the Wolinski National Park;
• the Dr. Bohdan Dyakowski Reserve (40.5 ha), which covers a fragment of an old beech wood with a melic grass;
• the Prof. Wladyslaw Szafer Reserve (40.4 ha), which protects a fine section of an old beech wood with Dentaria toothwort;
• the Prof. Adam Wodziczko Reserve (23.6 ha), protecting the high cliff of the Szczecin Bay.
The last, unusually picturesque reserve contains some xerophyte communities.
The old beech wood on the cliffs is rich in sumptuous orchids. Another frequent and gorgeous specimen on the cliff is the red helleborine (Cephalanthera rubra). The dunes are sparsely overgrown with vegetation, of which the most beautiul is the sea holly. This fine willow-green plant, resembling thistle, can adapt to the extremely hard environment of the dunes. The total number of all plant species is over 13 000.
Fauna
The Wolinski National Park is a habitat of many animal species. The rich world of insects on the island includes the largest Polish beetle - the stag beetle. An ornithologist could find a veritable bird paradise, with a large number of birds (ca. 230 species).
The white-tailed sea eagle, whose image is in the emblem of the Wolinski National Park, finds its favorite hunting ground here. The wing-span of this huge European bird of prey can reach as much as 2.5 m. This fine bird is under strict protection. During the recent years, its population has decreased significantly. Of the two or three pairs nesting every year in the Park, only one, at best, has young.
Other birds of prey include kite, sparrow hawk, goshawk, and buzzard. The island location provides favorable conditions for numerous species of waterbirds such as sea-gull, cormorant, mute swan, tern, grebe, the some species of duck, including the beautifully feathered shelduck. The Park is also known for its bison reserve, established here in 1976. Roe-deer and wild boar are among the larger mammals, that may be encountered in the forests.
Other attractions
To a naturalist, the blue tourist route, which meanders through the woods south of Miedzyzdroje to the Szczecin Bay's shore, is of special interest. Hiking through the picturesque scenery of this part of the Park enables the visitor to encounter many of the exciting animal and plant species. The charming, sunny shore of the Szczecin Bay, east of the Lubin village, is high and steep. Zielonka hill at Lubin offers the most beautiful panoramic view of the Old Swina river marshes, with numerous islands (for example Karsibor) and the Szczecin Bay.
Not far from the Szczecin Bay shore, lies the village of Wapnica. Huge banks of cretaceous chalk, which were brought here by the continental glaciation during the last glacial period, are occured among the moraine tills. In the old days, these chalk sheets were partially exploited, and a small lake with a white precipice rising above its water was formed in one of the local ancient mines. This lake is known as Turkusowe (turquoise), because of its crystal clear water, which on a sunny day has a splendid emerald or turquoise color.
Nearby the Turkusowe lake, in the village of Wapnica, a giant, ancient oak grows. Such magnificent trees can be encountered in other parts of the island, for example in Miedzyzdroje, or on the shore of the Bay, west of the Karnocice village. They, apparently, are the last remnants of the virgin forests, which once covered the Wolin Island.
On a rainy day, tourist should visit the Park Museum and Ecological Center at Miedzyzdroje, which displays the interesting collections, presenting the island's natural history. Anyone, who has ever seen the Park, will certainly return to it, since it offers excellent conditions for relaxation. Every year, over 300 000 visitors are drawn to this Park, in hope to discover some new, enchanting treasures in this magnificent nature paradise.

Museum, Parks & Zoos / Museums, parks & zoos